Insert pad for shoes



March 8, 1966 3,238,946

R. G. KEELEY INSERT PAD FOR SHOES Filed March 6, 1964 HTTOQNE Y6 United States Patent O 3,238,946 INSERT PAI) FOR SHOES Robert G. Keeley, 621 S. Poplar, Centr-alia, Ill. Filed Mar. 6, 1964, Ser. No. 350,005 1 Claim. (Cl. 12S-617) The present invention relates generally to the shoe art, and more praticularly to Ia novel insert for shoes for effecting proper foot balance therein.

Heretofore, many corrective shoes and corrective inserts for shoes have been developed and used by millions of people. For years, there has been a constant search for an insert which is highly effective over a wide range of foot structure. Multiple tiered pads have been employed.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a novel unitary insert pad for shoes which lends proper support to a foot to obtain correct foot balance in standing and in walkingI In brief, the present novel insert pad for shoes includes a forwardly extending portion for disposition under the heads of the fourth and fifth metatarsals, a raised or elevated central portion which is widened, the highest point going under the cuboid and the widened portion supporting the inner longitudinal arch. A rearwardly extending portion is rounded to conform generally to the concave rear of the shoe and serves as a guide in placing the insert within a shoe.

Hence, another object of the present invention is to provide a novel insert pad for shoes which incorporates proper support for the front portions of lthe fifth and fourth metatarsals.

Another object is to provide a novel insert pad for shoes which provides proper support for the cuboid and the inner longitudinal arch.

Another object is to provide a novel insert pad for shoes which incorporates a quide portion for assisting in the insertion thereof into a Shoe.

Another object is to provide a novel insert pad for shoes which is adapted for effective use for a wide range of foot structures.

Another object is to provide a novel insert pad for shoes which can be readily applied within :a shoe for correct balance of the foot therein.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages are apparent from the following description taken with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of an insert pad for a left shoe incorporating the teachings of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal, Vertical, cross-sectional view taken on substantially the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal, vertical, cross-sectional view taken on substantially the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal, vertical, cross-sectional view taken on substantially the line `4 4 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the insert pad of FIGURE l disposed upon the insole of a left shoe, the bones of the left foot being superimposed in dotted lines to illustrate the relation of the pad to the bones of a foot;

FIGURE 6 is a transverse, vertical, cross-sectional view taken on substantially the line `6 6 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a transverse, vertical, cross-sectional View taken on substantially the line 7 7 of FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 8 is a transverse, vertical, cross-sectional view taken on substantially the line 8-8 of FIGURE 5.

Referring to `the drawing more particularly by reference numerals, 10 indicates generally an insert pad incorporating the teachings of the present invention which 'has a ICC fiat bottom 12 and a top surface contoured as cle-arly shown by FIGURES 2-4 and 6-8. The outline of the pad 10 is clearly shown in FIGURE 1.

The forward portion of the pad 10 is formed to give support to the forward portions of ythe lifth and fourth metatarsals, as indicated in FIGURE 5. The rear portion 16 of the pad 10 is rounded to conform to the concave heel of a shoe and serves as a guide in the insertion of the pad into the shoe. The portion 16 is thin and is disposed under -the os calcis of the foot. The highest area of the pad 10 is in the neighborhood of the circle indicated by the reference numeral 18 which lends support to the cuboid. An arch support portion -20 extends laterally from the pad 10 and supports the inner longitudinal arch of the foot.

In FIGURE 5, a pad 10 is shown on the isolated sock lining 22 and insole 24 for a left shoe. The relative positions of the os calcis 26, the cuboid 28, the fifth metatarsal 30 and the fourth metatarsal 32 are shown. The arch support portion 20 of the pad 10 is illustrated in the position it assumes when disposed against the upper of a shoe.

It is apparent that there has been provided an insert pad for correcting the position of a foot within :a shoe to provide correct standing and walking positions, and which includes a portion for ready positioning of the pad within a shoe, which fulfills the objects and advantages sought therefor.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description and the accompanying drawing have been given by way of illustration and example. It is also to be understood that changes in form of the elements, rearrangement of parts, and substitution of equivalent elements, which will be obvious to those skilled in the art, are contemplated as within the scope of lthe present invention which is limited only bythe claim which follows.

What is claimed is:

In combination, an insert for a shoe comprising a thin fiat rear portion having a rounded rear edge adapted to engage the back of a shoe as a stop for positioning said insert in a shoe, said thin flat rear portion being adapted to receive the base of the os calcis of a foot, a central portion of substantially greater thickness than said rear portion including a lateral .arch supporting portion, the rear part of said central portion being bevelled transversely to provide a relatively short transition from the level of the rear portion to the level of the central portion, said bevelled portion being adapted to serve as a stop for the forward portion of the heel of a wearer to reduce slipping, and a forward portion feathering to a thickness of about that of the rear portion terminating just forward of and adapted to support only the heads of the fifth and fourth metatarsals, said insert being re-adily placed in a shoe.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,903,323 4/1933 Brodl 1218-607 2,036,890 4/ 1936 Slater 128-621 2,044,233 6/1936 Wagner 12S-617 2,589,163 3/1952 Tieman 12'8--621 2,828,555 4/1958 Ledos 128-617 2,938,284 5/1960 Helmers 128-617 RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

LOUIS R. PRINCE, Examiner.

SIMON BRODER, Assistant Examiner. 

